$3,000 Reward For Houston's Most-Wanted Sex Offender

HOUSTON, TX — Jose Mario Lopez certainly doesn't want to be caught. The 59-year-old was arrested in 1983 on charges involving a 15-year-old girl and sentenced to 70 years. In 2015, he was granted parole and ordered to register as a sex offender, a lifelong condition, but, according to authorities, failed to register.

In January, he violated his parole, cut off his ankle monitor, and escaped from the Houston facility to which he had been assigned. He's not been seen since, and the Texas Department of Public Safety wants him so badly that they've put a $3,000 reward on his head. If you proved the department with any information that leads to Lopez's arrest you could be eligible for the money.

According to authorities, Lopez is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, and has the words "madre" and "padre" tattooed on his back, as well as a cross tattoo on his left hand and additional tattoos on his arms. He weighs about 180 pounds and also uses "Mario" as his first name. Officials with the DPS said Jose Mario Lopez should be considered armed and dangerous.

RACE:White(Hispanic)
SEX:Male
DOB:09/04/57
HEIGHT:5'7"
WEIGHT:180 lbs.
AKA:Mario Lopez, Jose Ruiz, Jose Mario Vargas Lopez, Juan Mario Vargas Lopez
SMT:Tattoos: a Cross on left hand; "PADRE" and "MADRE" on back; other tattoos on upper arms and left forearm. Scars on left hand and both forearms.
FBI #:549097R9 SID #:TX02047754 TDC #:00367391
WANTED FOR:Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, Parole Violation (Original Offense: Burglary of Habitation with Intent to Commit Sex Offense)
GANG(S):N/A
CCH:Burglary of Habitation, Burglary of Vehicle, Resisting Officer, Possession of Marijuana, Larceny
LKA:4613 Herschell Street
LKC:Houston, Texas
CAUTION:Subject should be considered ARMED and DANGEROUS!

— Image: Texas Department of Public Safety